Raphaelle Guerineau, Country CEO for Siemens Mobility Australia and New Zealand, has said that the company is committed to creating a workforce that not only celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion, but empowers employees to act in support of it.
“We are dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that empowers all women in the rail industry,” she said.
“As CEO, I am proud to lead an organization that values genuine diversity and the innovation it brings.
“Our commitment to gender equality is reflected in our ongoing efforts to create a workforce that mirrors the communities we serve, ensuring everyone has access to the same opportunities and is treated fairly.”
Over the past few years, Siemens Mobility have set targets to support the drive for change and have made significant strides in addressing the gender pay gap and increasing female participation rates as a result.
Guerineau said: “Our annual remuneration review process has shown significant improvement, and this is planned to continue.
“Our Internal Female Networking Forum provides a safe space for discussion, learning, and sharing, fostering a supportive community for women at Siemens Mobility.”
Guerineau also discussed the need for more women in STEM industries. Research by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency indicated that as of 2023, women made up only 29 per cent of workers in STEM industries, which fuels the technology company’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of female engineers through their Emerging Talent and WISE (Women in Siemens Engineering) programs.
“Our biggest challenge is the growing need for women in STEM. By visiting schools, hosting tours for students at our facilities, and encouraging students to pursue STEM subjects, we aim to showcase the vast career opportunities available in rail.
“We recognize that working to improve the gender balance is crucial for our continued success. This focus has helped us to achieve a 6 per cent increase in female participation and increased our female hiring by 30 per cent over the past two years.”
Furthermore, Siemens Mobility promotes allyship amongst the entire workforce through unconscious bias training and Respect@Work initiatives, which ensure that inclusiveness and equity are at the forefront of all decision-making processes.
“As we continue to collaborate with industry partners, our commitment remains unwavering,” Guerineau said.
“Together, we are building a stronger, more diverse workforce that drives innovation and success to promote the opportunities of a career in the rail industry.”
